A guide from Bisha and Danila. Everything we learned in five trips to the Nevada desert: what to pack, how not to fry, how to get a ticket and why you'll want to come back.
Burning
Man
[ ...Hey, desert friend ]
Welcome
to the dust
If you're reading this, you're either already planning your Burn or you really want to go but it feels a little scary. Totally normal — we were scared too.
Burning Man isn't just a festival with music and fire. It's a city of 70,000 people built from scratch in the middle of the desert. Everyone lives there for nine days, then takes it all apart as if it never existed. You can't buy anything, yet you can get everything. And yes, it really does rewire your head.
2022
Danila goes solo
Danila's first Burn. No camp, no experience, not even a bike (rookie mistake number one — don't repeat it). He stepped on pretty much every rake a newbie can, and those lessons became the backbone of this guide.
2023
Two of us in a car
We went together and slept in the car. Then the rain came: the playa turned into sticky clay, the gates closed and everyone just waited it out. We also met a ton of people we're still friends with.
2024
Almost a camp
We brought friends and first-timers, set up a big kitchen under a shade tent and fed everyone who stopped by. At some point we realized: we're not just guests anymore, we're a camp.
2025
Dust storm and an RV
A dust storm hit us at the gate and by evening the line was enormous. People tried to sleep sitting up in their cars, while we made the beds in our RV and went to sleep. Since then — Burns in an RV only.
2026
Our own camp: SolarPlus
For the first time we ran our own camp, SolarPlus, with 13 people. We gave talks on solar panels and charged our bikes and pretty much everything else with solar power.
[ ...So what is it? ]
A city
that burns
Burning Man happens every year at the end of summer in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada. On the dry bed of an ancient lake (everyone calls it the playa), Black Rock City pops up in a week: streets, camps, giant art, stages and even its own post office.
There's no headliner and no concert tickets. Everything you see was dreamed up and hauled in by the participants themselves. And at the end, the giant wooden Man burns.
~70K
people living in the city at once
9
days, from Sunday to Monday
$0
nothing is sold inside except ice. Everything else is gifted
0
traces left: the city is taken apart and the playa is swept clean
Art
House-sized installations, glowing sculptures, art cars shaped like fish, ships and dragons. A lot of it goes up in flames on the last nights.
People
Strangers will pour you coffee, invite you to breakfast at the camp next door and gift you a bracelet just because. Making friends here is ridiculously easy — trust us.
Freedom
Wear anything (or almost nothing), dance until sunrise or sit quietly at the Temple. Nobody judges — just don't get in other people's way.
The most important thing at Burning Man isn't what happens around you. It's what happens inside you.
[ ...When and where ]
Late August,
Nevada desert
The festival runs for nine days: it ends on Labor Day, the first Monday of September, and starts on the Sunday the week before. The exact dates change every year, so always check them on burningman.org.
Where
Black Rock Desert, Nevada. The closest big city is Reno, about 2.5–3 hours by car. The last proper store on the way is in Fernley; after that it's tiny Wadsworth, Nixon and Gerlach.
Weather
85–105°F in the day with brutal sun, and nights can drop to 40–50°F. Add dust storms that turn you completely white. Sometimes it rains — then the playa becomes sticky clay and nobody can drive.
What's there
Almost nothing. No stores, cafés, showers or trash cans. There are porta-potties, medical tents, Rangers and ice. Everything else — water, food, shelter — you bring yourself.
Gates open
Arrival, the line, and first hugs from the greeters
Everything at once
Art, parties, talks, yoga, art car parades
The Man burns
The big night: fireworks, fire and the whole city around it
The Temple burns
A quiet, deeply moving night; people leave their notes inside
Exodus
Everyone heads out; the exit line can take 5–10 hours
[ ...10 Principles ]
The rules of the game,
minus the boring part
These aren't bylaws — they're the spirit of the city. Co-founder Larry Harvey wrote them down, and every burner knows them. Read them once and you'll get why everything out there feels so different.
Radical Inclusion
Burning Man is for everyone. It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, how old you are or what you look like — you're welcome here.
Gifting
No bargaining, no bartering. You give because you want to: a cocktail, a massage, a sticker, a hug. You expect nothing back.
Decommodification
No logos, ads or sales. Lots of people even tape over brand names on their clothes and cars.
Radical Self-reliance
Your water, food, shelter and safety are on you. The desert doesn't forgive "I figured we'd buy it there."
Radical Self-expression
Be whoever you want: in feathers, pajamas or a unicorn costume. The only rule is respect for others.
Communal Effort
Camps and art are built together. Helping your neighbor put up a shade structure is the best way to make friends.
Civic Responsibility
You're part of the city: follow the rules, look out for your people and don't make problems for others.
Leaving No Trace
Pack it in, pack it out. Even glitter and feathers count as trash — it's called MOOP.
Participation
There are no spectators. The more you jump in, the more you get out of it.
Immediacy
Less phone, more life. The best Burn moments happen when you're simply open to them.
[ ...What to pack ]
The checklist
that saves you
There are no stores in the desert, so you have to bring everything. We split the list by topic — save this page and go through it before you leave. If you're coming with us in an RV, feel free to cross off half of it: shelter, kitchen and water are on us.
Shelter
- A tent with solid stakes (long ones, 12"+ — regular stakes will blow out) — if you're not going with us
- A shade structure — without it your tent turns into a sauna by 10 am
- A sleeping bag rated to 20°F and a pad or air mattress
- Rope, zip ties and duct tape — lots of it
- Earplugs and a sleep mask: the music never stops
Clothes
- Layers: hot days, genuinely cold nights
- A warm jacket or faux-fur coat for the night
- A wide-brim hat and sunglasses
- Comfy closed-toe shoes — not flip-flops
- Costumes! Sequins, fur, anything that glows — the brighter the better
Dust protection
- Ski goggles or dust goggles — in a whiteout you can't see a thing without them
- A respirator or bandana for your face
- Zip bags and sealed bins for gear and clothes
- Vinegar — to wipe the alkaline dust off your feet
- Moisturizer, lip balm, eye drops
Lights
- Lots of light! String lights on you, your costume and your bike — at night you need to glow, or nobody can see you
- A headlamp
- String lights and glow sticks for camp
- A light-up flag pole for your bike — to find it in a crowd
- Spare batteries
Tech
- Power banks — lots of them
- A solar panel or portable power station
- Cables and adapters
- Dust covers for your phone
- There's barely any signal — agree on meeting spots with friends in advance
First aid and hygiene
- SPF 50 sunscreen
- Band-aids, pain relievers, stomach meds
- Electrolytes — super important
- Wet wipes, dry shampoo
- Trash bags: everything leaves with you
And don't forget gifts
Bring something you can give away: bracelets, stickers, candy, cold lemonade, Polaroid photos. Not required, but it makes meeting people way more fun. No pets — they're not allowed.
[ ...Food and water ]
Fuel
for the desert
The desert dries you out so fast you won't even notice you're dehydrated. Water is priority number one, and food should be simple and not spoil in the heat.
1.5
gallons of water per person per day — that's what the organizers recommend
~12 gal
of water per person for the week: drinking, washing up and cooking
1
bottle always on you. Drink before you're thirsty
0
drops on the ground: gray water gets collected and hauled out
Water
Buy it ahead of time in Reno or on the way — it isn't sold out there. Bring extra: better to haul some back than run out. Add electrolytes; plain water isn't enough in that heat.
Food
Nuts, dried fruit, bars, grains, pasta, canned food, ready-made sauces. Keep fresh veggies and meat in a cooler — you can buy more ice right at the festival. A stove, dishes and a thermos for morning coffee are must-haves.
Share
Our favorite hack: cook extra and invite the neighbors. That's exactly how we turned into a camp in 2024. Food is the best way to meet people on the playa.
[ ...Getting around ]
Your bike is
your best friend
Black Rock City is huge: a few miles from one end to the other. On foot in that heat you won't see half of it. Cars can't drive inside the city — only bikes and art cars.
Bike
The easiest way to get around. Get a simple, sturdy one with fat tires — the dust will kill an expensive one anyway. Label it and decorate it so you can spot it among thousands of others.
Art cars
Decked-out rolling platforms with music that give everyone free rides. Hop on and get carried to a party on the other side of the city.
RV
Shelter, kitchen and dust-storm bunker in one. Since 2025 it's the only way we go. It stays parked in the city, and you ride your bike across the playa.
What to bring for your bike
- A lock — bikes sometimes "wander off" by mistake
- A pump, 2–3 spare tubes and a tool kit
- Lights on the frame and wheels — a must
- A basket or bag for water and stuff
- For our guests we bring e-bikes and e-scooters — no pedaling in the heat
Deck out your bike
String lights on the frame, glowing wheels, tinsel, faux fur — think of your bike or scooter as a tiny art car. You'll be easier to see at night, and you'll spot it instantly among thousands of others.
A light-up flag pole
The hit of 2026: a tall, flexible LED pole that mounts on your bike. Easy to order on Amazon. You roll up to a small DJ set, there are a hundred bikes in one pile — and you find yours in a second by the flag.
An e-bike is even better
Pedaling through heat and sand is hard work; on an e-bike you'll cover way more ground. Just plan how you'll charge it: a solar panel, a power station or a camp with power. At SolarPlus everything runs on the sun.
[ ...Tickets ]
How to get
to the Burn
Tickets are the most nerve-racking part of prep. There aren't many, lots of people want them, and they're sold in several waves. The key is to start early.
$675+
a regular ticket in 2026 (prices depend on the sale and change every year)
$165
Vehicle Pass for a car or RV in 2026
2
tickets max per person in the main sale
Register early
Tickets are only sold on burningman.org. First you create an account and register for the sale you want — you can't buy without it.
Catch the first sale
Usually in winter, around February. Tickets are gone in minutes, so set a reminder and have your card ready.
Missed it? No panic
There's usually a main sale in spring, and the official resale, STEP, runs until late summer. There's almost always a chance.
Get a Vehicle Pass
Every car or RV needs its own Vehicle Pass. In 2026 it cost $165.
Also budget for
- Flights to Reno or San Francisco
- A car or RV rental
- Gas, food, water, ice
- A night in a Reno hotel before and after
- Costumes and gear
Not allowed
- Reselling tickets above face value — only through the official STEP
- Pets
- Weapons, fireworks, flying drones without a permit
[ ...Our hacks ]
What five Burns
taught us
You won't find this in the official guides. We learned it the hard way — sometimes fun, sometimes not so much.
Skip day one
Sunday has the longest line at the gate. Monday or Tuesday is usually faster, and the city is already up.
Storms are normal
When everything goes white, just stop, put on your goggles and mask and wait it out. Don't try to ride blind.
Vinegar for your feet
The alkaline dust dries skin until it cracks. Wipe your feet with water and vinegar and moisturize every night.
Glow bright
At night without lights, bikes and art cars can hit you. Good rule: look like a Christmas tree.
Map in your head
The city is laid out like a clock: streets are named by hours and letters. Write down your camp address — there's barely any signal.
Rest in the afternoon
The peak heat is noon to 5 pm. Nap in the shade and stay out until sunrise instead.
Handle your trash
Sort it in camp, crush the cans, pack everything in heavy-duty bags. You can only dump it in Reno or on the way out.
Plan your exit
Exodus can take 5–10 hours. Get some sleep, keep food and water in the car — or leave a day earlier or later.
[ ...Go with us ]
Don't want to handle
all of this yourself?
Leave a request — we'll get in touch, tell you about the trip and answer all your questions. We handle the prep; you just fly in.
- All the logistics — from help with tickets to getting you home
- An RV with beds, a kitchen and shelter from the storms
- Food, water and e-bikes for the whole week
- Five Burns of experience and our own camp, SolarPlus
See you in the dust!
Bisha and Danila, The RV Escape